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All human remains buried in 1996 in public cemeteries are subject to removal, the Gazette announced today (June 6).

Members of the public wishing to arrange for private exhumation and disposal of any affected human remains should apply to the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene (DFEH) before June 30, 2003.

Any remains not exhumed as required will be cremated at a Government crematorium and the ashes will be reburied at Sandy Ridge Urn Cemetery or other urn cemeteries as the DFEH may decide.

The human remains to be affected are those buried in the Coffin Section of Wo Hop Shek Cemetery, Cheung Chau Cemetery, Tai O Cemetery and Lai Chi Yuen Cemetery on Lantau; T Section and Government Urn Section of Sandy Ridge Urn Cemetery in Lo Wu; and Grave No. 12033 in Section 7 and Grave No. 12041 in Section 16B of Hong Kong Cemetery in Happy Valley.

The exhumation order is made in pursuance of Section 119A of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Chapter 132) which empowers the DFEH to direct the removal and disposal of any human remains buried in public cemeteries for a period of not less than six years.

Applications for private exhumation should be sent to the FEHD¡¦s Cemeteries and Crematoria Office at 6 Cheong Hang Road, Hung Hom, Kowloon. Enquiries can be made on 2364 5364.

End/Friday, June 6, 2003

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